The Washington critic., 1887-08-09
AN ODD LEGACY.

Gene" was mending wash tub.
The Colonel was the Deacon's half.
brother, an elderly, eccentric person,
who had died month ago in the small
Western village where lie had lived.
ITS from his lawyer, as | says"
the Deacon continued, unfolding the
letter. And Seth and William got
copies Of It, We was all at the post.
office when the mail come, and took
'em out together. 1t says" he went
on slowly-"and Scth's and Williams
says the very same thing-that it was
the Colonel's last wish that his daugh.
Ter Malyina should have home out
here, with Seth, or william, or me.
He said that whoever took her would
be doing an act of charity, aud would
be sartin TO get rewarded in heaven.
And be wanted us all notified In them
words"
For the lands sake" said Mrs.
Uolcomb
"And, continued the Deacon, "Seth
and William both said they couldn't
take her, SO l s'poso we'll have to do
it,"
"Well," said Gene, rising from the
washtub with good naturedly despair.
ing gesture, 1--WE are to have our
Cousin Malvina, Kate; but we are to
give up all hopes of q college course,
and we are to be married to Mark Hill
In the dress we have on-we shall not
be able TO scrape up money enough for
new one by next spring with Cousin
Malvina on our hands"
He put an arm about his sisters
waist In mock sympathy, and whirled
her laughingly away.
A week later Malvina arrived and
was given hearty greeting.
She was certainly past $3.50 Kate
mentally decided. She also decided
that long earrings and juvenile neck
lace and tight curls, besprinkled with
gray, were hardly becoming TO her
faded little face, and that her checked
silk dress was not In the best of taste.
She did not appear to be much Of
talker. She answered their inquiries
In chirpy monosy llables, turning her
gaze meditativoly around the small
bare room, and through the door to the
calico COVERED sofa and well worn rag
carpet of the sitting room. But she
wore look of quiet satisfaction and
enjoyment. and when they were all
ulbullN luC ollllDs lODlll SbUNC
IT had deepened into positive warmth,
which sharpened her soft eyes aud gave
IA pink tinge to her faded cheeks.
II should judge, Uncle Holcomb,"
said Malvina, turning upon the Deacon,
II should judge that you amt 50 well
off as you might be.
1t was an embarrassing inquiry. Mark
Hill, who had called to see Kate, looked
at his boots aud pretended not to have
heard 1t; and Kate and Gene exchanged
indignant glances.
Surely any other remark would have
come better from their Cousin Malyina,
under the circumstances.
well, no." said the Deacon,
meekly.
And suppose-I suppose Uncle
Seth and Uncle William are consider.
ably better off now, amt they 2" con.
tinued Malvina, calmly.
"Well, yes, they be-" said the
Deacon.
$50 the Colonel said. I always
called him the Colonel" said Malvina.
And there was suspicion of mlsti
ness in her eyes as she spoke the
name.
There was silence, broken sharply
by the violent jingling of Malvlna's
long earrings, as she suddenly sat
straight up in her chair.
81 sbant wait another moment !''
she said, decidedly. 1.-The Colonel ad.
vised me not to be hasty, to look into
things little first. But couldn't
know you any better II l waited year,
you dear, good man
His listeners stared at each other in
silent alarm, and Kate edged little
nearer to Mark.
Was Malvina going out of her
senses2
1--WE been imposing on you shame.
fully" Malvina went on, energetically.
The Deacon looked at his wife ap-
prehensively, and Mrs. Holcomb turned
shade paler. Something was wrong
with halvina, clearly.
at was the cOlOnels plan," the
small person went on, apologetically.
"You know he was always nOtional;
and so he took this way of doing it.
'Of doing what" said the deacon,
finding bis voice with an effort
"Disposing of his property" said
Malvina, composedly. ~ suppose
from that letter, now, you didn't think
he had any to dispose Of? We'll, ii
you recollect, 1t didn't say he hadn' t.
The colonel dictated every word of
that letter Just the day before he diedl
What he wanted to find out was which
of his brothers was the best and kind.
est, and thought enough of him to be
willing TO put up with the poor, lone.
some old woman he left alone, aud
that would he the one for bis money,
he said. And he said all along-he
seemed TO feel certain Of il--that II
would be you, Uncle lIolcomb, though
you are the poorest of en-"
The deacon looked al her blankly.
"You see, the Colonel was pretty
successful of laIe years, said Malylnl,
''and there's enough for us both. NV
income would take care of dozen
forlorn old women like me, and your
share ---. Well you'll find It's enough
to build you the best house In town and
live better than my uncles Seth aud
William ever dreamed of doing"
Mrs. HolcQmb folded her apron in
her fingers Nmblingly, and the Deacon
struggled yalnly to speak.
ITS sort of SURPRISE ain't it2"
said Malylna, smoothing down the
checked silk, smllingly. "And, now
that I've let it out, suppose you'll ba